Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenny Morant. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jenny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
My sister, Brianna Morant, and I had started our team, Oak Street Group, over 10 years ago. Because the dynamic of selling real estate is different than buying real estate, we structured our company so that I work exclusively with buyers and she, with sellers. We were thriving and doing exceptionally well. Brianna had been in real estate for several years prior, but I was relatively new.
In February 2015, I found myself being stretched thin trying to keep up with our buyers and being a new Mom of a 4-month-old. Brianna had been challenging me to hire a showing specialist. For those of you not in real estate, this position is not very common. Let me explain.
A showing specialist is a licensed realtor whose sole job is to find and show properties, that’s it! Brianna had used this model a few years prior when she worked with buyers and had great success. I was uneasy about bringing on a new agent because I wasn’t sure if I could provide enough business for us both to meet our financial goals. However, I needed help; and having someone dedicated to showing homes would allow me the time to spend with my baby girl and also focus on bringing in new business.
From my experience in this industry, I knew that this was a very special role and not just anyone could fill it. I believe in the “lucky girl syndrome;” and shortly after expressing to Brianna that I was ready to hire a showing specialist, she met a new agent – Bradley Collier. She loved him immediately and felt that he and I would make a dynamic duo. Within a week, I met Bradley; and Brianna was right; Bradley and I just clicked! He quit his bartending job and came on full-time. We have now been together 8 yrs.
Bradley is like no other! He and I have transformed the showing specialist model into something that works seamlessly. Our client’s love that they have someone focused only on finding and showing homes and another expert (me) that is ready to write an offer at any time on any day.
If I had not taken a risk by hiring Bradley, I guarantee you that I would not be where I am today. Bradley not only changed my career, but he changed my life for the better. He is like family now!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m known as a top producing realtor. I never thought in a million years I would even be a real estate agent. To be honest, I really wasn’t sure what a real estate agent was. In 2011, my husband entered the business with my then sister-in-law, Brianna. He had always had an interest in real estate. By this time, I had graduated with my master’s degree in counseling and was working on my license.
To make a long story short – Brianna asked me to start calling leads so I could make a little extra money. I was so intimated by cold calling; but eventually, I got the hang of it which eventually morphed into me becoming an exclusive buyers’ agent.
I enjoy what I do and have a knack for understanding people and reading nonverbal communication. All of this training and advanced education has helped me improve my negotiating skills and problem-solving talent.
Honestly, I problem solve better than most because of the great relationship I have with quality vendors. For example, I take the time to get to know my clients’ needs, goals, and even limitations so we stay ahead of any potential problems. Nashville is a hot and competitive market. To properly represent and take care of my clients, I have assembled an amazing team of vendors that offer the best in their respective fields. Since I give them so much business, they provide our clients with the best service and pricing. One of my most important vendors is our lender partner. He is the top producing loan officer in the nation and keeps me abreast about interest rates – if there are any new programs that will work for my client’s or if they can do a buy-down, etc.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Brianna Morant and I have a really cool story! Brianna, Josh (my husband), and Jason (Josh’s brother and Brianna’s Ex-Husband) grew up together in New Orleans. Brianna and Jason got married and ended up moving to Nashville in 2005 after hurricane Katrina.
Fast forward to 2011. Josh and I had been married for 3 yrs, and decided to make the move to Nashville to support Brianna in her thriving real estate venture. Brianna and I hadn’t really known each other well since we lived so far apart. However, we quickly became really close friends. In 2013, we decided to go into business together and start Oak Street Group.
In 2017, Brianna and Jason divorced. While we may no longer be actual sister-in-laws, we are still the best of friends and business partners. Brianna and I have been through more challenges than most people in their lifetimes. We call each other soul sisters! Brianna and Jason have since re-married and have wonderful new spouses. She and I now just refer to each other as sisters =)
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
Creativity and hard work is important in any line of business. This is what sets you apart.
I was still relatively new in the business and started working with a repeat client of Brianna’s. This gentleman had just experienced a lot of tragedy and had recently lost a spouse. He was looking for a new beginning where he could heal. While searching for properties, he would periodically bring up a home that he had seen several years ago and always regretted not purchasing it.
I started to think about this home and wondered if the current owner would ever sell. I researched who represented the buyer and reached out to this agent. To make a long story short, we ended up making a deal happen. The owner had been toying with the idea of selling, and our interest came at the perfect time. If I had not made that extra effort, our client could have missed out on the opportunity to own this special home.
This dear client has since referred many others to us. His story is a great one and reminds us that Oak Street Group offers more than the best at buying and selling homes. We’re about helping people heal and find happiness, too!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oakstreetrealestategroup.com
- Instagram: oakstreetrealestategroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakStreetGroup/
Image Credits
Jessica Steddom @ jessicasteddom